UFC fighter Irwin Rivera was arrested Thursday on two counts of attempted murder, according to an incident report obtained by ESPN.
He was booked just after Noon local time after being apprehended by the Boynton Beach Police Department and is being held without bail, per online jail records.
Boynton Beach Police Department spokesperson Stephanie Slater told ESPN that Rivera is being accused of stabbing his two sisters.
Boynton Beach police officers found two women — one age 22 and the other age 33 — with multiple stab wounds after being called to a residence, per the incident report. The younger woman had wounds in her back, head and arm. The older had wounds throughout her back, face, arms and hands. Both were alive and rushed to a hospital.
One of the sisters told police that they were staying with their brother, Rivera, in one of his spare rooms and they awoke to Rivera repeatedly stabbing them with a knife, according to the report.
Rivera fled the scene. Police made contact with him at about 7 a.m. local time on Thursday morning and, per the report, Rivera said, “I killed my sisters.” According to the report, Rivera told police that he entered his sisters’ bedroom while they were sleeping and stabbed them with a “brass knuckle knife.” Rivera told police that he believed he had killed his sisters and he did it because it was his purpose, told to him by a “higher power.”
In a statement, the UFC said it is investigating the “extremely troubling” situation and would not be offering Rivera fight at this time.
“UFC is aware of the recent incident involving Irwin Rivera and subsequently received information from his management that he has been exhibiting behavior consistent with mental health issues,” the UFC statement read. “The allegations are extremely troubling and the organization is currently gathering additional information. The investigation is ongoing and any potential next steps including disciplinary action or medical attention will be determined upon the conclusion. Furthermore, UFC has informed Rivera’s management that he will not be offered a bout at this time.”
Rivera, 31, last fought at UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley on Sept. 19, losing a split decision to Andre Ewell. Rivera, a Mexican-born Florida resident, debuted for the UFC in May and earned his first UFC victory, beating Ali AlQaisi in August. Rivera is the former Titan FC bantamweight champion.